When the head of one of the largest corporations in the entire world takes the time to write a ‘thank you’ letter to an elementary school, it’s a pretty big deal.

Toshiya Miyaguchi, president of Toshiba America Medical Systems, Inc. (TAMS), wrote Clear Lake Elementary such a letter to express his “sincere appreciation” for the school’s recent fund-raiser that generated $802.68 to assist the American Red Cross (ARC) in its efforts to help victims of the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11.

“We are very pleased and honored to not only accept the donation to provide to the ARC, but will match the amount that was contributed,” Miyaguchi wrote. “Please express TAMS’ gratitude to all your students and teachers for this wonderful and heartwarming expression of support.”

“We will be sure to pass on word of your kindness and generosity to our Toshiba family of employees in Japan,” he noted.

The letter was presented to Clear Lake by TAMS Sales Executive Jim McClear, who’s daughter, Emily, is a third-grader at the school.

“I am so proud that you were able to do this,” said McClear to a group of students, Principal Sue Hannant and school volunteer Mari Harada Knorp, a native of Japan. “But I want you to think about what you really did. It’s good to have empathy and to think of others, but what you guys did, which was extra special, is you turned that empathy into action.”

“When you guys can get the attention of one of the largest corporations, halfway across the planet, that is something I hope you will keep as you grow older and assume leadership roles in society,” McClear continued. “You all have very, very good ideas inside your heads. Don’t be afraid to turn those ideas into action, especially when it’s for the betterment of people across the country and the world.”